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IAAF Dismisses Athletics Kenya CEO's Challenge

April 08, 2016 9:06 AM

Associated Press

FILE - Athletics Kenya CEO Isaac Mwangi holds up a copy of the IAAF Competition Rules book, to illustrate his denial that Athletics Kenya would have the power to shave time off athletes’ bans, in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 8, 2016.

The IAAF's ethics board on Friday rejected a challenge from the CEO of Athletics Kenya against his provisional suspension for allegedly soliciting bribes from two athletes.

Isaac Mwangi was provisionally suspended in February, after The Associated Press first reported the allegations from runners Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga.

Mwangi challenged that decision in March.

In a statement, the ethics board said it has dismissed his challenge.

Bans for doping

Sakari and Manunga are serving four-year bans for doping at the 2015 world championships. In an AP interview, they said Mwangi asked them each for a $24,000 bribe to reduce their suspensions. They said he asked for the payment in an Oct. 16 meeting, but that they could not raise the money.

They then were informed of their four-year bans in a Nov. 27 email, but never filed a criminal complaint because, they said, they had no proof to back up their bribery accusation and also feared repercussions.

The ethics board said the athletes -- who are both serving police officers -- have since reiterated their allegations in signed written statements.

"They state that the accounts that they gave The Associated Press, and the content of The Associated Press article dated 10 February 2016, are true," the ethics board said.

Mwangi's challenge countered that the athletes are "cheats" and "liars" and that "their evidence should not be trusted," the ethics board said.

The ethics board is also investigating three other senior executives from the Kenyan athletics federation for alleged corruption.

Probe

The board said Mwangi has not "identified anything" that sufficiently undermines the probe for his 180-day provisional suspension to be lifted.

Sakari and Manunga told AP the alleged Oct. 16 meeting took place at AK's headquarters in Nairobi.

The ethics board said Mwangi "accepts that both he and the athletes were indeed present in the Athletics Kenya offices in Riadha House on the day in question" but says he could not have met them because his schedule was "very tight."

The board said the probe should continue.

"There is still a prima facie case, and one fit for further investigation against Mr. Mwangi," it said.